NFL training camp season is officially upon us, which means holdout/hold-in season is too as players seek new contracts.
Terry McLaurin's contract negotiation with the Washington Commanders reached a new gear on Thursday when he reportedly requested a trade. The star receiver reported to training camp a few days earlier but continued to sit out practices, as he was effectively a hold-in.
But with no new deal in place, McLaurin has taken things to the next level. The Commanders reportedly have no intention of dealing away their start receiver.
Meanwhile Cincinnati Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson remains unsigned but has reported to camp this week despite the absence of a new deal. Hendrickson won't be hit with any more $50,000 daily fines if he does so, but per ESPN, he and the Bengals still aren't any closer to a contract resolution.
The Bengals did mange to settle another contract beef earlier in camp, reportedly agreeing to a four-year, fully guaranteed $18.97 million with rookie first-round pick Shemar Stewart.
[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]
And oh yeah, there's the Dallas Cowboys and whatever they're doing with Micah Parsons. That high-profile standoff is still roiling as ESPN reported Tuesday that negotiations have stalled between the two parties, and they're "further away from a deal" now than they were in the spring.
What other big names either haven't reported or aren't taking full part in practice while seeking a new contract? Are their situations roiling or boiling? Here's the latest, where we rank each situation by the attention and rancor from both sides.
Dallas Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons
"The two sides have gone backwards, not forwards. I don't think they're speaking very much these days, if at all," ESPN's Adam Schefter said Tuesday. "This negotiation, when it was a negotiation, has gone sideways. It's not a negotiation right now. There's really no conversation about getting a deal done." This is all after Jerry Jones delivered a wild season-opening media conference last Monday that started some sniping between team ("Parsons has to want to be paid") and star player ("I'm not here" for Jerry Jones). The Cowboys usually run big contract extensions pretty late, but the level of acrimony here only seems to be growing.
Washington Commanders WR Terry McLaurin
McLaurin ended his holdout by reporting to the Commanders on Sunday morning, but his subsequent trade request indicated negotiations aren't going well. The two sides have not made progress on a new deal, ESPN reported. Is this trade request simply a tactic to pressure Washington, or is it real?
Cincinnati Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson
Hendrickson reporting to camp on Wednesday by no means the situation has simmered much. If anything, it seems like the prudent play considering he's being fined $50,000 a day for each practice he misses. It doesn't change the fact that Hendrickson went gloriously passive-aggressive and posted about being in Florida as camp opened last week, nor that he called a recent Bengals offer "atrociously, atrociously low." This is still a big one to monitor.
Buffalo Bills RB James Cook
Cook has been practicing, but he continues to talk openly about his desire for a new contract. "I deserve what I want," he said last week. What does Cook want? $15 million a year, per his social media, which would tie him for third highest-paid running back. It remains to be seen if the Bills agree.
Green Bay Packers OL Elgton Jenkins
Jenkins said he missed OTAs for a "family matter" and not his contract situation. He was activated off the NFI list last week and practiced Monday, including playing center and snapping to Jordan Love. Green Bay just paid offensive lineman Zach Tom record-setting signing bonus money as part of his new contract. Will Jenkins get one too? And how will his move from guard to center affect that deal?
San Francisco 49ers WR Jauan Jennings
Jennings has been officially practicing with the 49ers, which indicates he's not planning to hold in, though he has missed several practices with a calf injury. Head coach Kyle Shanahan disputed the report that Jennings had asked for a trade if he didn't get a contract extension. The injury adds an interesting wrinkle as Jennings seeks an extension.
Comments